Field Handbook For Students, Site-Supervisors, And Agencies

Counseling faculty will review the professional credentials of prospective site supervisors beforeauthorizing placements with a supervisor. The USF Field Placement Coordinator will maintainappropriate credentials including CRC Certification.Site supervisors are provided a Field Handbook for Students, Site-Supervisors and Agencies thatcovers the RMHC program Mission Statement and goals, CRCC and American CounselingAssociation Code of Ethics, roles and responsibilities and contains an affiliation agreement,supervision contract, student activity log forms, and field evaluation forms. The Rehabilitation andMental Health Counseling Program offers professional development and continuing educationopportunities in supervision to our site supervisors, including an online supervision and ethicsworkshop opportunity to all site supervisors free of charge.Desired Experiences: Students are placed in a variety of rehabilitation and mental health agencysettings consistent with their professional interests and training needs. Direct contact and servicedelivery to consumers is what the field training component is all about, and field supervisors will tryto maximize these experiences as much as possible, consistent with the service standards of theagency and the student’s ability. Supervisors are encouraged to integrate students as much aspossible into the operations of the agency, and this is especially true with interns who are at theagency 40 hours a week. Students need to be able to see and work with clients individually, and it isappropriate for them to be involved with individual and group counseling, intake interviews andassessments, case planning and management, treatment and rehabilitation plan development, home orfield visits (only with an accompanying agency staff member), placement and follow-up. While itmay be necessary for students, especially interns, to read agency procedural manuals and do someclerical tasks, they are not agency employees and under no circumstances can such activities be theirmajor experience. In regard to group counseling sessions, for practicum 1 and practicum 2, studentswill co-facilitate group until the supervisor determines they are ready to facilitate groupindependently. In addition, no more than 20 hours can count toward direct contact hours. Over 20hours of group, the hours will count toward agency hours. This rule does not apply to internship.Time Requirements: 2020 Cohort and Beyond: Students in the M.A. program spend a total of 900hours in the field, 300 hours in practicum (40 hours face-to-face for each class) and 600 (240 faceto-face) hours in internship. In a typical 15-week semester students in practicum spend 10 hours perweek at an agency (Summer semester is will be 15) and in internship 40 hours per week. Thestudents and agency arrange actual days and times for practicum. These can be during the day,evening, or on weekends, and many students work full-time and need evening or weekend timeslots. Internships are normally five eight-hour days per week, but this can also be negotiatedbetween the student and agency as long as 600 hours are completed during the semester or summersessions. For internship, students may count their class time toward their agency hour requirement,if approved by their site supervisor. Practicum I, Practicum 2, and Internship hours must be accruedduring the confines of the semester dates. Each class is taken over the span of one semester.(2015-2019 Cohort) Students in the M.A. program spend a total of 1000 hours in the field, 400hours in practicum (40 hours face-to-face for each class) and 600 (240 face-to-face) hours ininternship. In a typical 15-week semester students in practicum spend 14 hours per week at anagency (summer semester it will be 20) and in internship 40 hours per week. The students andagency arrange actual days and times for practicum. These can be during the day, evening, or on7

weekends, and many students work full-time and need evening or weekend time slots. Internshipsare normally five eight-hour days per week, but this can also be negotiated between the student andagency as long as 600 hours are completed during the semester or summer sessions. For internship,students may count their class time toward their agency hour requirement, if approved by their sitesupervisor. Practicum I, Practicum 2, and Internship hours must be accrued during the confines ofthe semester dates. Each class is taken over the span of one semester.Field Placement EvaluationFaculty review student readiness for initial field placement success during the term before practicumbegins. A Student Readiness for Field Placement form is completed for students seeking PracticumI. At the clinical staff meeting, faculty review overall student progress including students’performance on course assessments, grades given in required classes, and dispositional fit to engagein practicum. See Appendix G.Activity Log: Students are expected to keep a weekly Activity Log that will include a summary ofhours and activities to be reviewed and signed off on by the USF Field Placement Coordinator. SeeAppendix D.Supervision: A faculty member at USF will be assigned to each practicum and internship student,and the faculty member will coordinate the student’s field experience from the Program’s end. Sitesupervisors must be full-time employees or the equivalent in the agency, a minimum of a master’sdegree, and sufficient professional experience to supervise graduate students in the field. Allstudents must have ongoing supervision on an individual basis at the field placement site. The sitesupervisor must have regular contact with practicum and internship students, and must provide aminimum of one hour of individual clinical supervision per week. The site supervisor completes amidterm and final progress report (see Appendix C) on each student, and this report is reviewed withthe student and then returned to the Program. The midterm evaluation is usually completed sevenweeks into the semester, and the final evaluation during the last week of classes in the semester.Student Conduct: Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at alltimes. An agency is justified in terminating a student’s field experience for any substantial conductproblem, and over less substantial conduct or performance problems if the student will not or cannotcorrect them. Students are expected to fully follow all agency rules and procedures. If for anyreason a student’s placement site is disrupted, the student must contact their course instructor assoon as possible.Professional Ethics: Students are expected to conform to the CRCC Code of Ethics and ACA Codeof Ethics; a link to each Code of Ethics is included as Appendix H and Appendix I.Student Self-Evaluation: Students are expected to complete a Field Placement Self-Evaluation atboth the mid-term and the conclusion of the semester. See Appendix E.Site Evaluation: Students are expected to complete a Field Placement Site Evaluation at theconclusion of the semester. See Appendix F. The evaluations will be reviewed annually andany area on the evaluation that falls below a three will be discussed at the clinical teammeeting. If necessary, the Field Director will reach out to the site to explore ways tostrengthen the field placement experience.8

Taping Requirements: Students in practicum meet weekly with their university supervisor in aseminar linked to their practicum. One of the major goals of this seminar is to develop counselingskills, and students need to bring in audiotapes of clients (only with the client’s permission), whichare critiqued and then subsequently erased by the student. Site supervisors need to try to helpstudents obtain counseling tapes, but in no case should any consumer feel under pressure to allow astudent to tape an interview or counseling session. Maintaining the confidentiality and theanonymity of clients who agree to be taped is a responsibility the Program takes very seriously.Tapes may be required, at the discretion of the instructor, during the internship seminar as well.Student Concerns: Occasionally problems of one sort or another develop in a field placement (e.g.,excessive absences by a student, inappropriate conduct of some nature, difficulty accepting directionand supervision). These should be brought to the attention of the faculty member coordinating thepracticum or internship as soon as possible.Site Concerns: Occasionally site concerns may develop. If this happens, the field director willreach out to the site to discuss the concerns. If no improvements are made, this may result indissolving the field placement partnership.Student/Teacher Ratio for Internship: Following program accreditation requirements, thestudent/teacher ratio for the Internship Class will be 10:1.9

Field HandbookAppendix AAffiliation AgreementNote: The Program must prepare two copies of this form with all lines completed for agenciesapproved for student placements. In cases where the student has been approved by the Program touse their work site as a practicum or internship a signed agreement is not necessary10

Department/School of Child and Family StudiesCollege of Behavioral & Community SciencesUniversity of South FloridaAFFILIATION AGREEMENTThis Agreement is made and entered into this day of , , by and between the University of SouthFlorida, Board of Trustees, a public body corporate, for its College of Behavioral and Community Sciences,Department/School of Child and Family Studies’ Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program, hereinafterreferred to as “USF” and Agency Name, hereinafter referred to as the Agency.WHEREAS, USF wishes to provide training experience for its Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling students andAgency, and WHEREAS, Agency desires to assist USF in providing Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling studentexperiences by making available experiential opportunities at its facilities.NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein, the parties agree as ncy agrees to provide training opportunities for USF Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling programstudents.USF and Agency shall share responsibility for the supervision and coordination of the training experience. Thenumber of students, specified dates/times, and training activities will be established by the parties in advance of thetraining period.All shadowing field experiences of students at the Agency will be under the supervision of an authorized agencyemployee. The training experience supervisor shall be designated on the training experience site approval form.Under most circumstances this supervisor will be present on site with the student. When this supervisor is unable tobe present on site, this supervisor will make arrangements for another authorized employee to act as supervisor.The supervisor will take all reasonable steps to insure that the student provides the highest quality of volunteerservice that is consistent with the student’s level of training.The Agency will provide the student with an orientation to the field placement site.The supervisor will take all reasonable steps to insure the safety of the student. Students are not permitted to transportany consumer in their vehicle or to operate any vehicle of the agency. In addition, students will go with theirsupervisor to all in-home and community-based client visits for the first month of their field experience or until thesupervisor determines they are ready to provide services independently.USF students and staff shall comply with the established policies and practices of the Agency with regard to clientservice, health of staff members, uniforms and use of equipment and facilities. Additionally, USF students andAgency staff shall comply with the code of ethics and professional standards of related professional organizations.Faculty and staff of the University of South Florida are provided with comprehensive general liability insurancepursuant to the terms and limitations of Florida Statute 768.28 and Florida Statute Chapter 284 Part II.Students who are assigned to Agency for training experiences pursuant to this Agreement are provided insuranceprotection against professional liability claims by the University of South Florida Health Sciences Center SelfInsurance Program pursuant to Florida Statutes §§768.28 and 1004.24. A certificate evidencing such liabilityprotection is attached hereto as Exhibit B. Such professional liability protection has limits of 1,000,000.00 per claimand 3,000,000.00 per occurrence, and is occurrence-based coverage that includes liabilities that may be incurred byUSF as a result of this Agreement. USF shall maintain such insurance in effect at all times that Students are assignedto Agency.Agency may request USF to withdraw any student whose conduct or work performance is not in accordance withAgency policies and standards. USF may withdraw any student whose progress, conduct or performance does notmeet USF’s standards.Agency and USF may change or add to this Agreement by written amendment executed by authorized representativesof the parties and attached hereto.This Agreement will continue in effect unless/until one of the parties notifies the other of termination. In case oftermination prior to the end of a term of training, students will be permitted to complete their training experience.The Agency will provide Students, and USF faculty if applicable, access to appropriate resources for Studenteducation.The pertinent USF College and School is ultimately responsible for the education program, academic affairs, and theassessment of Students.The pertinent USF College and School is primarily responsible for the appointment and assignment of facultymembers with responsibility for Student teaching.11

17. Agency agrees to comply with applicable state and federal workplace safety laws and regulations. In the event aStudent is exposed to an infectious or environmental hazard or other occupational injury while at Agency, Agency,upon notice of such incident from the Student, will provide such emergency care as is provided to its employees. Inthe event that Agency does not have the resources to provide such emergency care, Agency will refer such Student tothe nearest emergency facility. USF will inform the Student that the Student will be responsible for any charges thusgenerated.18. USF and Agency are independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to createan employment, agency, association, joint venture, partnership, franchise or fiduciary relationship between theParties. USF’s employed faculty members and Students shall not be deemed to be employees or agents of Agency forany reason. USF’s employed faculty members and Students shall not be responsible for the supervision or control ofthe patient care activities of any Agency employee or staff member.19. This Agreement has been entered in the State of Florida and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of theState of Florida.20. USF and Agency agree to comply with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Heath Act(“HITECH Act”), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as codified at 42 U.S.C. Section1320d (“HIPAA”) and any current and future regulations promulgated thereunder, including, without limitation, thefederal privacy regulations contained in 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164 (“Federal Privacy Regulations”), the federalsecurity standards contained in 45 C.F.R. Part 142 (“Federal Security Regulations”), and the federal standards forelectronic transactions contained in 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 162, all collectively referred to herein as “HIPAARequirements.” The Parties agree not to use or further disclose any Protected Health Information (as Defined in 45C.F.R. Section 164.501) or Individually Identifiable Health Information (as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 1320d),other than as permitted by the HIPAA Requirements and the terms of this Agreement. The Parties agree to make theirinternal practices, books and records relating to the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information available tothe Secretary of Health and Human Services to the extent required for determining compliance with the FederalPrivacy Regulations. In addition, the Parties agree to comply with any state laws and regulations that govern orpertain to the confidentiality, privacy, security of, and electronic and transaction code sets pertaining to, informationrelated to patients. USF may de-identify any and all Protected Health Information for educational purposes created orreceived by USF under this Agreement, provided, however, that the de-identification conforms to the requirements ofthe Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information at 45 C.F.R. Part 164, Subparts A and E.USF shall direct Students to comply with the policies and procedures of Facility, including those governing the useand disclosure of individually identifiable health information under federal law, specifically 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and164. Solely for the purpose of defining the Students’ role in relation to the use and disclosure of Agency’s protectedhealth information, the Students are defined as members of Agency’s workforce, as that term is defined by 45 C.F.R.160.103, when engaged in activities pursuant to this Agreement. However, the Students are not and shall not beconsidered employees of Agency.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, USF and Agency Name have caused this Agreement to be executed by their authorizedrepresentatives.Dean, College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, University of South FloridaDateChair/Director, Department/School of Rehabilitation a

6 for students' clinical training experience. Any exception to this policy would need to be reviewed and approved by the faculty. Affiliation Agreement: The Program has signed an affiliation agreement with all agencies that provide fiel